₦airaland Forum

How the North will decide Buhari’s successor ―Sen, NEF leader

…‘Nnamdi Kanu is the main stumbling block to Igbo’s chances’

Professor Yima Sen is the Director-General of Northern Elders Forum, NEF. In this interview, Sen says successive governments’ inability to secure lives and property is giving rise to self-defence among other issues of national interest in Nigeria.

Coming back to the issue of Amotekun, the governors of the south western states are the ones spearheading this and most of them are of APC and the Federal Government is also led by APC; do you see a clash coming? Where they disagree with the Federal Government, what do you think will happen eventually?

This question suggests that the problems of Nigeria transcend partisan politics and I told you earlier about this class dynamics of Nigeria and politics.

The people who are behind the scenes of power in Nigeria and are wealthy and are in the commanding heights of the Nigerian economy and the people who are the frontline politicians can be aggregated into one class called the ruling class.

Now, they have common interest and this interest goes beyond partisan politics and when they are threatened or when their communities are threatened and they put pressure on them and the pressure that is put on them is pressure that threatens privileged positions, they will have to appease their people and protect their interest.

Miyetti Allah has warned the South-West that if they don’t drop the idea of Amotekun, 2023 presidency may elude them. How may you react?

Is Miyetti Allah a political party? They are a community group. They are engaged in pressure group antics.

Where do the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, stand on Amotekun? What is their position?

The organization has not taken a stand on the issue. If it is discussed, you can be sure that my opinion will be that if government, the Federal Government in particular and of course state governments, has failed to provide security for the people, then they should not be averse or should not oppose community initiative so long as it is not unconstitutional and I think that there have been those types of initiatives by various communities.

I am talking about hunters in the North-East; I am talking about Hisbah police. There are all sorts of private security guards around the country that are protecting people’s businesses and all of that; I think they are registered with government.

And Amotekun, if it is constituted by state governors, I imagine that they will find legal framework to backup what they are doing and I also believe that the Nigerian security and defence forces should be in a position to monitor what these people are doing.

I think that we should be able to convert some of these things which are seen as threats into issues for national development.

President Buhari recently pledged to exit office in 2023 but was silent on which zone to support although there are agitations and interests. How do you read that?

The issue of going away after 2023 is constitutional. He is just stating the obvious. But on whether he can determine which zone or who succeeds him, you ought to look at whether he has the interest or whether he can actually do it or whether that is really his responsibility, we have to look at those factors.

From my own analysis, 2023 is open. Now, there are people who will lay claim to the principle of zoning that it should come to them. I know that there is a strong claim coming from the South-East but the problem with the claim of the South-East is that we have to deal with whether they are going to listen to Nnamdi Kanu or to politicians from that community.

Because that is a major distraction or it creates a lot of confusion. Of course, the presidency of the country has stayed in the North for a long time either military or non-military, either elected or unelected.

There are people who would say that with the presidency staying in the North, what has the North benefitted from the presidency staying in the North?

The bigger question really is that does the ethnicity or the state of origin or even the religion of the president matter? If the person is objective, caters for all and he is seen as the father of the nation, do you know that Paul Kaigame, the Tutsi President of Rwanda, that his people constitute only 16% of that country and in the civil war, the Tutsi were the target of the genocide, they were called cockroaches?

And like I said somewhere else, today a cockroach is leading that country and the people who were in the forefront of this attack were the Hutus who were the 82% of the population of that country.

That is an overwhelming majority. There is no group in Nigeria that is 82% of this country, yet in Rwanda, a minority has been accepted by the whole country and he is leading that country to prosperity.

The NEF is an important group going by its name but it does appear that these elders have not actually spoken up when it comes to 2023 politics and the presidency; why haven’t they spoken?

No, it is too early but certainly we shall speak on that but we cannot speak on that until we consult with our people and we do plan we will have a major assembly which will discuss that kind of issue.

It was planned for early this year and when it does hold, we will take a stand on these kinds of issues.

Do you see the forum supporting the South-East or do you want to retain power in the North


I shouldn’t pre-empt things.

But what is your own position?
I am not opposed to it but there are problems of how you organize yourself for leadership of a country of this nature and the present problem from the South-East and, as I said earlier, we don’t know if the voices of secession will overwhelm the voices that want to be integrated into Nigeria.

Assuming the National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, comes up to contest for President in 2023, would you buy into his ambition?

I am looking forward to a leader of Nigeria that will give Nigeria qualitative leadership irrespective of where the person comes from. I am concerned about the failure of Nigeria to develop up to its optimum since independence.

As a scholar and an analyst, I have written so much about that, that I am even tired talking about it. But, personally, I am a revolutionary and I believe that and I have inferred during this discussion that the class that has led Nigeria since independence has failed to maximize or convert the quantum of the resources of Nigeria into prosperity for the citizens of Nigeria.


The other problem is that the alternative forces, let’s say, for example, leftists or socialists, are also not well organized, so we have a problem there.

PDP leaders recently staged a peaceful protest against the Supreme Court ruling that sacked former governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, and brought in APC leadership in the state; what would you read of that Supreme Court judgment because many historians, analysts, critics are saying that no, they didn’t go in the right direction. You as a person, how would you read that and then, the attendant protest?

I can only talk about that as a layman. The legal argument, sometimes, you have legal acrobatics and, sometimes, ordinary logic is superseded by legal logic.

I think even some lawyers are also confused about this issue because, sometimes, the law is interpreted by certain lawyers differently; a judge may interpret it differently from a lawyer. So this is a whole new legal mystery. At old age, I am not going to read law. I am not interested.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vanguardngr.com/2020/01/how-the-north-will-decide-buharis-successor-%25E2%2580%2595sen-nef-leader/amp/

Before Nnamdi Kanu started his agitation, what was Igbo's stumbling block?

Who needs to lead a sinking ship

Biafra is our only hope.

source: vanguard news

Who in their right minds wants to be president of the disaster called Nigeria?

Don't mind idiots, Igbo's don't want Nigeria president but self determination to determine of future, preserve our culture, life & environment, equity & fairness not quota system.
They northerners will install their stooge, after 4 years of Igbo president what next?, they will say Igbo's have rule what are you agitating for.
We are moving forward with Biafra & not anything that will set our time back.
I personally will work against Igbo president.
#All hail Biafra.

what are these guys smoking ?
they want to deceive the SE like they did or are doing to the SW. Southern Nigeria is wiser now. its either a restructured Nigeria or u continue to lead the collapsing shithole

Fg

Bleep the with president. I who the president help. I

myright:
Before Nnamdi Kanu started his agitation, what was Igbo's stumbling block?

Now I am sure that Kanu is causing these cow fuckers sleepless night. This is just the beginning. Fooloos

Ebenezar2020:
until Igbos repent from following This fraudster and also dropping the bia'fraud agitation and come together towards the unity and progress of the nation before SE presidency would be considered.

It is apparent that You are poorly educated to even know the meaning of unity.

You need to take all your educational certificates(bsc, waec etc) to the bush, spread them on the floor and defecate on them.

Amumaigwe:
Now I am sure that Kanu is causing these cow fuckers sleepless night. This is just the beginning. Fooloos

Fear of Mazi Nnamdi kanu is the beginning of wisdom for almajiris .
Who the president help?, Buhari's kastina a case study, instead bandits over run their villages, hunger & death follows. We Igbo's don't want that but self determination to secure our future & generation unborn.

Ebenezar2020:
until Igbos repent from following This fraudster and also dropping the bia'fraud agitation and come together towards the unity and progress of the nation before SE presidency would be considered.

To hell with you and your useless unity. Who is causing more disunity in Nigeria, Boko haram ,Fulani herdsmen, Ansuru, Bandits ,killing of CHRISTIANS in the North.. Which northern elder have ever openly condemn the activities of this group... I pity ss/ se soldiers that is dying fighting boko haram in the frontline in the name of keeping Nigerian one. To hell with one Nigeria! One Nigeria my foot....

Ebenezar2020:
but at the end your brothers will still cry of marginalization, Northern agenda and killing of federal character if your people are not appointed into certain positions in the president's cabinet.

Federal character and equity are things that should be there no matter who is president

If Igbos have to be president before marginalisation stops then they should be allowed to leave Nigeria because Igbo president will come and go but nothing will change

Osagyefo98:
Only clowns and terrorist listens to Nnamdi kanu these days.

The young man is fully anti-development.

How many lives has he touched since his agitation.

On the other hand he has wasted many young souls and sent them to their early graves.


Such character shouldn't be allowed to head any post. He doesn't have Igbo interest at heart.

His only concern is his dog.


Check IPOB miscreants and see how unruly they always behave.

How many lives has Buhari touch?, how many live has he killed using his bokoharam, herdsmen & bandits etc?.
After compare & contrast based on no of lives he help & the no he killed, you will realized that Buhari is a demon & kanu a saint.

Ebenezar2020:
but at the end your brothers will still cry of marginalization, Northern agenda and killing of federal character if your people are not appointed into certain positions in the president's cabinet.

Let me ask you a question..how will an igbo hustler in Abakaliki benefit from Igbo president?

However, the hustler in Abakaliki can benefit from Biafra by not having to go to Lagos every time to clear his goods when there are ports in port Harcourt
He won't have to depend on Abuja to tell him how to drill the oil in his back yard
He won't need a Fulani police officer to protect him from Fulani terrorists

Osagyefo98:
Only clowns and terrorist listens to Nnamdi kanu these days.

The young man is fully anti-development.

How many lives has he touched since his agitation.

On the other hand he has wasted many young souls and sent them to their early graves.


Such character shouldn't be allowed to head any post. He doesn't have Igbo interest at heart.

His only concern is his dog.


Check IPOB miscreants and see how unruly they always behave.

Fulani man pretending to be Igbo.

SLAP44:
Fulani man pretending to be Igbo.

Fulani is a tribe same as Igbo.

Therefore both are tribes.

This man mind your state for once and stop running about on Igbo bla bla bla

Osagyefo98:
Fulani is a tribe same as Igbo.

Therefore both are tribes.

This man mind your state for once and stop running about on Igbo bla bla bla

You have been busted.

SLAP44:
You have been busted.

Thanks for busting now run along and pray.

I am not interested I repeat Interested in what happens in your state.

Everyone is an Independent unit. Stop lumping everyone together.

Osagyefo98:
Thanks for busting now run along and pray.

I am not interested I repeat Interested in what happens in your state.

Everyone is an Independent unit. Stop lumping everyone together.

Well said, fulani man.

SLAP44:
Well said, fulani man.

Alright thanks.

Just remove omambala in your mind and lumping. Stop eroding our values.

Biko I take God beg u.

Osagyefo98:
Alright thanks.

Just remove omambala in your mind and lumping. Stop eroding our values.

Biko I take God beg u.

Fulani man values cows and nothing more, which other values do you have?

SLAP44:
Full night man values cows and nothing more, which other values do you have?

Next

And Boko Haram and Islamic state are not a stumbling block to the Islamic northern Nigeria.

Killer herdsmen are no stumbling block to a Fulani man becoming president?

selemempe:
Let me ask you a question..how will an igbo hustler in Abakaliki benefit from Igbo president?

However, the hustler in Abakaliki can benefit from Biafra by not having to go to Lagos every time to clear his goods when there are ports in port Harcourt
He won't have to depend on Abuja to tell him how to drill the oil in his back yard
He won't need a Fulani police officer to protect him from Fulani terrorists

@bolded.
If you're still dreaming of the old defunct Eastern region as the map of biafra then u need to wake up to reality.
wetin consign Port Harcourt with Biafra?
Or u want me to school you on the new biafra map?